Founded as Mid-Coast Airways in 1960 and name changed to Downeast Airlines in 1968. The airline was granted an air-taxi certificate from the FAA under Part 135 of the Federal Air Regulation. It applied for the Boston to Rockland route as a scheduled air-taxi carrier and subsequently qualified as a Part 135 Commuter Airline. In 1980. Downeast was sold the Boston to Rockland route to Bar Harbor Airlines but continued the air-taxi service until 2007 when it was acquired by Rockland Airport Partners, LC, doing business as Maine Atlantic Aviation.